H.R. 725 · Where this bill is now
Waiting for a House vote
Approved by committee Jan 12, 2026; no House vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExchanges mineral interests in Montana
This bill arranges a three-way exchange of land and mineral rights in Montana. The federal government would give up a coal lease at the Bull Mountains Mine near Roundup, and in return would receive mineral and surface rights in Musselshell County. The Hope Family Trust would give the Crow Tribe mineral rights within the reservation's boundaries, while receiving other federal mineral and surface interests from the government. The Crow Tribe must first agree with the Hope Family Trust on how to split any money made from developing these resources.
How it affects you
This primarily affects the Crow Tribe of Montana, which would gain valuable mineral rights held in trust by the federal government and protected from state and local taxes. People in and around Big Horn and Musselshell counties in Montana may see changes related to mining operations and land use in their area. Most other Americans would not experience direct effects from this bill.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 24, 2025)
Crow Revenue Act
This bill addresses the exchange of mineral interests in Montana involving the federal government, the Crow Tribe of Montana, and a private party.
Specifically, the bill requires
• the Department of the Interior to accept the relinquishment of a specified federal coal lease associated with the Bull Mountains Mine near Roundup, Montana (the current operator of the mine is Signal Peak Energy);
• the Joe and Barbara Hope Mineral Trust (Hope Family Trust) to convey approximately 4,660 acres of subsurface mineral interests located within the boundaries of the Crow Indian Reservation in Big Horn County, Montana, to the tribe; and
• Interior to convey approximately 4,530 acres of subsurface mineral interests and 940 acres of surface interests located in Musselshell County, Montana, to the Hope Family Trust.
Prior to these conveyances, the tribe must notify Interior that the tribe and the Hope Family Trust have agreed on a revenue-sharing formula for the development of the mineral and surface interests in Musselshell County, Montana.
The mineral interests conveyed by the Hope Family Trust to the tribe shall be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the tribe, upon the tribe's request. These mineral interests shall not be subject to state or local taxation.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 725
A BILL
Crow Revenue Act
Sponsor: Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT-2) · Introduced Jan 24, 2025 · Native Americans · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 12, 2026: “Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 375.”